Looking for the perfect book to dive into and unwind with?
Relax, put your feet up and flick through one of the reads that the hard-working New Zealand Woman’s Weekly team currently just can’t get enough of. Take our word for it, you’re sure to love these as much as we do!
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
Marilynn McLachlan, Editor: “Not for the faint-hearted, this book flips the script on one of America’s worst serial killers, Ted Bundy. Unflinching, it weaves the narrative about some of the women impacted by him, moving between the past and present in the ultimate pursuit of truth. A must-read for those who love psychological thrillers.” (Simon & Schuster)
The Night She Fell by Eileen Merriman
Anna Lee, Lifestyle & Beauty Editor: “I struggled to put this pacy new thriller from award-winning New Zealand author Eileen Merriman down! Described as a “deliciously evil exploration of narcissism”, in The Night She Fell, a promising young law student dies in Dunedin, but it’s a mystery as to why or who exactly is involved…” (Penguin Books)
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
Mirella Monteiro, Art Director: This novel is a touching story about love and fate. It connects the past and present, showing how family and memories shape us. Ann Patchett’s writing is beautiful, making us think about life and what makes us truly happy. It lingers in your thoughts long after the last page.” (HarperCollins)
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Mae MacDonald, Digital Content Producer: “This is a gripping, fast-paced, must-read that combines romance with fantasy and action. Set in an elite war college, Violet trains to become a dragon rider with all the odds stacked against her. Imagine if How to Train Your Dragon met Harry Potter and had a baby – it would be Fourth Wing!” (Hachette)
The Stolen Hours by Karen Swan
Catherine Milford, Senior Writer: “The second book in this trilogy is set on the Scottish island of St Kilda in the 1920s. It focuses on Mhairi MacKinnon, who has to be married off to a farmer on a neighbouring isle – and of course, things don’t go to plan. A page-turner.” (Pan Macmillan)
Pet by Catherine Chidgey
Sarah Henry, Editorial Director: “A whodunnit that moves along at an excellent pace, you’ll be trying to guess what happened the whole way through and change your mind many times. I love the Kiwi-ness of the story, with relatable nostalgic references – even Miss Universe Lorraine Downes gets a mention! A must on your reading list.” (Te Herenga Waka University Press)
Everything is Beautiful and Everything Hurts by Josie Shapiro
Denise Bowden, Chief Sub-editor: “This is a story about a young woman’s athletic dreams and stopped me in my tracks. From overtraining, injuries and starving herself all while under the watchful eyes of her coaches, it’s an eye-opening look at performance sport. Dropped from competing, it’s a heart-wrenching tale of regaining her love of running and self.” (Allen & Unwin)
Butter by Asako Yuzuki
Debby Wei, Designer: “Butter is a fascinating crime fiction inspired by a real Japanese serial killer, Kanae Kijima. The author takes the readers deep down the rabbit hole of traditional beauty standards, probing into the world of sexism. I’m warning you, the book also contains a lot of scenes of delicious food!” (HarperCollins)
Faebound by Saara El-Arifi
Katie Shepherd, Sub-editor & Writer: “As a keen fantasy reader, I was excited to check out best-selling author Saara’s first novel in her latest trilogy. With solid world and character building, and not a lot of romance, this tale was a delightful quick read to satisfy my need for all things fae, elvish and magical.” (HarperCollins)
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
Claire Chisholm, NZ Sales Director: “An epic, sweeping intergenerational novel based in South India, which follows a family as they deal with love, hardship and tragedy, while negotiating political, social and environmental issues of the time. It’s daunting in size but easy to read, and especially satisfying how all the characters’ stories eventually weave together.” (Allen & Unwin)
